Italian Jews Uneasy As New Turn Develops in Fascist Movement

Considerable anxiety is felt by Jewish leaders here in view of the changes which have taken place in the Fascist movement.

Fascism with its ultra-nationalist tendencies and aims, its desire to reestablish the Roman Empire and especially by reason of its philo-Vatican policy has put Italian Jewry in a peculiar position. Although Mussolini’s Government has not taken an outspoken anti-Semitic tendency, the principle which Mussolini himself and his Party have openly proclaimed, namely, that Catholicism and Italian patriotism are one and the same thing, has almost excluded the Jewish religious minority in Italy and deprived it of the character of a fully emancipated part of the population.

The reform of the elementary schools, the famous “Gentile” law (enacted by Prof. Gentile, Minister of Education) under which instruction in the lementary schools must be conducted on strictly Catholic lines, is a direct outcome of this pro-Vatican orientation and has made it impossible for Jewish children to attend the elementary schools.

Recent articles in the Fascist press have emphasized more and more the Catholic and the Roman spirit of Mussolini’s movement and the “Tevere” has stated quite openly that “Jews are not Italians and cannot be good Fascists.”

The events of the last few weeks, since the attempt on Mussolini’s life, have revealed the gravity of the position of Italian Jewry. After the attempts on Mussolini’s life the Fascist Press accused the Jews of being behind these attempts.

The democratic world is under the influence of the Jews, the Fascist Party organs are never tired of repeating. The Freemasons are dominated by Jews and “International Jewish Finance” is doing its best to get Mussolini out of the way, to annihilate Fascism and to bring Italy to the verge of anarchy. Under the heading of “Accomplices” a well-known Fascist Deputy has published an article in which he argues that “Jewish Finance” alone was interested in the murder of the leader of the Fascist movement and that the attempts on Mussolini’s life were financed by Jews. At the same time a sensational report finds its way into the columns of the Fascist press to the effect that “The Elders of Zion” at their last meeting elected Signor Nitti, the former Italian Premier, as an Honorary Jew, because of his services in the fight against Fascism. The paper “Della Serra” of Trieste not only printed this report, but assured its readers that it guarantees the truth of it.

The results of this anti-Semitic agitation have very speedily become apparent. Serious anti-Jewish excesses have occurred in Padua. Black Shirts forced their way into the old synagogues of the city and did great damage. They smashed the pews, tore the Taleisim and broke the windows.